Developmental origin and clinical profile of siamese twins in a tertiary care setting

TL;DR

This study examines 12 cases of conjoined twins at a tertiary care center, focusing on their developmental origin, classification, and outcomes.

Contribution

The study provides insights into clinical management and outcomes of conjoined twins in a tertiary care setting.

Findings

Thoracopagus was the most common type of conjoined twins in the study.

Prenatal diagnosis was achieved in 75% of cases, mainly via ultrasonography.

Neonatal survival rate was 41.7%, with two successful surgical separations.

Abstract

Conjoined twins represent a rare outcome of incomplete monozygotic embryonic division and are associated with high perinatal morbidity
and mortality. Therefore, it is of interest to analyze 12 cases managed at a tertiary care center, focusing on developmental origin,
clinical classification and perinatal outcomes. Thoracopagus was the most frequent type (41.7%) and prenatal diagnosis was achieved in
75% of cases, primarily through ultrasonography. Cesarean delivery was performed in most cases and neonatal survival was 41.7%, with
successful surgical separation in two instances. Early diagnosis, precise anatomical delineation and multidisciplinary planning are
critical for optimizing outcomes in these complex cases.